"Mercury Falling"

by **Clya Brown** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:30 pm

Easily the best so far, I thought. Loved the homage to Fireball XL5 at the beginning in the form of the launch rail. And it's about time that in response to Scarlet announcing himself, somebody said "I'd never have guessed!" - though Scarlet must surely have heard it a thousand times during the course of his career....

I felt that for the first time the script really shone in this episode, in addition to the animation being first-rate as ever. Just one tiny thing - why did that woman tell Scarlet where the laptop that was controlling the shuttle was when she was a Mysteron from the time that Black paid her a visit in her flat?

by **shaqui** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:40 pm

Yep, another winning episode! Nice action-orientated - and great to see Black back, and in his uniform too! Oh this is sooooo 'TV21' I'm almost wetting myself with excitement... :shock:

And not only 'Fireball' but having a lift body for the shuttle was a bit 'Zero X' too!

I hate being a second rate Holly but I am soooooo lovin' it!

:grin:

by **Matt Crowther** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:03 pm

Easily the best yet, also like Black being in uniform just like the comics. This could be like fine wine, improving with each one.

by **shaqui** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:11 pm

I'm getting the impression the transmission order of episodes is being juggled to give a balance so while 'Swarm' and ' Rat Trap' were a little slow as later episodes, it's nice were getting a seeming increase in quality for the pacing and editing department.

by **shaqui** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:55 pm

shaqui wrote:And not only 'Fireball' but having a lift body for the shuttle was a bit 'Zero X' too!

Actually, there may be a third... the lift body looks a bit like the 'Wombat' (the 'TV21' name for the twin set winged aircraft that can land another smaller plane on it back in the Thunderbirds episode 'The Duchess Assignment')...

Website · by **Sage** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 2:21 pm

Loved the episode; for the script, effects, everything.
Totally agree with Matt, it is getting better.

by **ROBE** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 2:51 pm

Another great episode, nice to see Black back in uniform and Spectrum ID being flashed like the old show. Not to spoil anything for anyone yet to see the episode but Scarlet's disposal of the Mysteron agent would make James Bond proud :-D

by **shaqui** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 3:11 pm

I'll say one thing... I'd hate to work for the Spectrum Insurance Claims Office! :-D

"Yes, let's see... oh dear, oh dear.

Destiny Angel, you've scratched two Falcons, and a space shuttle lander? It was the other driver's fault? What other driver? Oh, the Mysterons... I see. Unfortunately, their insurers are a little unco-operative. Something about crushing the Earth. Good thing we're not insuring that!

Oh, and Scarlet... can you kindly stop blowing up expensive satellite dishes? The ISA were not exactly happy about that. How unhappy? Well, let's just say they saw red, okay? No, that wasn't a joke. You know we don't do that in the SIC offices... "

:-D

by **shaqui** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:25 pm

The most obvious difference was Captain Black looking more like he did in the original, even down to the distinctive pale eyes, whereas the original Conrad Lefkon looked markedly different.

Was that a conscious decision?

by **hazel** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:39 pm

Scarlet's method of getting down from the dish made me laugh a bit, I had to admit. But that was the only jarring note - I enjoyed this episode very much.

by **wilde1** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:46 am

I enjoyed seeing Destiny confirming her new role as Spectrum's number one astronaut, clearly in command of the Mercury Shuttle.

This begs a question about her rank.

She was clearly in command of this flight and of the Mars flight in 'Rat Trap'. She is also mentioned repeatedly as the leader of the Angels, so presumably out ranks the others.

So what military rank does she enjoy, and does she out rank Scarlet, Blue and the other assorted Captains ?
wilde1

by **yorkie** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:51 am

Anyone notice the photos of several of the production staff - think I recognised Ron Thornton - when Captain Black searched the ISA database?

by **shaqui** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:53 am

yorkie wrote:Anyone notice the photos of several of the production staff - think I recognised Ron Thornton - when Captain Black searched the ISA database?

Yeah... Kim and I were wondering who they were!

by **Aegis** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 4:00 pm

The photos were (in order):

Ron Thornton - CGI Producer
Harvy Randhawa - Lighting
Josh Simmonds - Blue Team CGI Director

by **ROBE** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 6:32 pm

I don't believe Destiny outranks Scarlet or Blue, she is in command of the spacecraft because that is her position. The captain of Airforce One (the President of the USA'S plane) does not outrank the President but he is in command of the plane. Destiny looks to be the senior pilot of Spectrum so she is naturally going to be chief pilot any time she flies with other people.

The issue of rank is something I wish they would clear up, the angels would have to be officers to pilot fighters.

Colonel White is in comand of Spectrum and Skybase and is aided by various Lts (Green being the most senior). The Cpts look to be the chief field officers. The original series had a Major incharge of Spectrum training.